Greene County panel approves $85,000 redevelopment assistance for Briar Ridge land purchase

The Greene County Development Commission voted to approve a resolution providing $85,000 — half of a reported $170,000 purchase price — to support a land purchase related to the Briar Ridge project, commissioners said during the meeting.

Commission members said the money is intended to help Briar Ridge’s investor acquire property currently owned by Steve Schoolcraft and to place basic structure in place for redevelopment assistance. The resolution approved gives the commission’s president authority to negotiate and enter into a redevelopment assistance agreement with the developer, subject to later, more detailed definitions of timing and performance.

Commissioners and staff debated how to define the developer’s obligation to begin construction. "Do they put a shovel on the ground and call it turnover?" a participant asked, noting the need for clearer milestone language. Another speaker said those clearer definitions would be drafted in a separate mutual agreement so both sides have “a better opportunity to have both sides clear on expectations.”

Speakers referenced past projects to illustrate the risks of vague start-date language. One commissioner cited prior delays at Highbridge and at a hotel project, saying those projects only moved forward after the commission threatened to terminate agreements. Commissioners discussed using a recorded memorandum or a provision that an agreement "runs with the land" so obligations would carry to a subsequent owner if the original developer sells before completing conditions.

During discussion commissioners also questioned projected timelines and local job impacts, with one member noting the project could take several years before producing a return. Commissioners discussed whether the site would support one larger building or two smaller buildings and whether tenants would locate in Greene County. No specific guarantees about job counts or tenant commitments were offered in the discussion.

A motion to approve the resolution (identified in the meeting as Resolution 2025-04) was made and seconded; the chair called for the vote and the motion carried. The resolution authorizes the president to negotiate the final terms and to sign a redeveloper agreement; staff said more detailed terms (including definitions of "commence construction") will be developed and recorded if necessary to provide notice to future buyers.

Commissioners emphasized the difference between the current action — authorization to negotiate and offer redevelopment assistance — and later binding obligations: the commission will adopt the final agreement language in subsequent documents. The commission did not adopt an exact construction definition at the meeting and did not state a definitive construction start date.

Ending: The commission approved the redevelopment assistance authorization and directed staff to draft a detailed mutual agreement and, as needed, a recorded memorandum stating that the agreement runs with the land so obligations would appear in title searches for future buyers.